Where to Begin the Search for Funding 

What Grantseekers Need to Know 

By Houkje Ross


Closing the Gap, Funding • April/May 2001


The Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC) 

should be the first stop on your quest to identify sources of 

funding. OMHRC provides the public and health professionals with the most current grantmaking opportunities available 

from Federal, private and corporate grantmakers, non-profits and 

grantmaking public charities. “If you’re a community-based organization looking for money, we’re just a telephone call away,” said LaJoy 

Mosby, deputy director for OMHRC. Contacting OMHRC first can 

significantly reduce the initial legwork—saving you time and valuable resources, Mosby added. 

OMHRC consults a variety of reference tools when conducting 

a tailored funding search. Readily accessible are a variety of directories, 

online and electronic databases, and related tools to customize a search 

and identify funding opportunities in nearly all areas. From grants 

specifically geared toward minorities, or research, social service, biomedical and health care funding guides to listings of residency and 

fellowship programs and detailed information on foundations, corporate and private philanthropic organizations—information specialists 

are standing by to help you navigate through the funding maze. 

OMHRC receives a large number of calls each month related to 

funding. “About 40 percent of the calls I get are from individuals who 

work for CBOs that are looking for money to start a new program,” 

said Charlene Williamson, an information specialist with OMHRC. 

“Many times, all the caller knows is that they want to do something to 

help their community,” said Williamson. The majority of callers are 

looking for funding to assist with programs related to youth, HIV/ 

AIDS, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and violence prevention, said 

Williamson. 

Not knowing exactly where to start a search is a problem for 

many grantseekers. According to the 2001 Foundation Center’s Foundation Giving Trends report, the percent of grant dollars given to 

health care ranks second, right after education. The Foundation Center, which has offices in Atlanta, Cleveland, New York, San Francisco 

and Washington, D.C., supports institutional philanthropy by promoting public understanding of the field and helping grantseekers 

succeed. With millions of dollars available for health funding, and 

thousands of private foundations, corporate grantmakers and public 

charities giving, it pays to know how to begin a search for funding. 

Start Locally 

Stephanie Singleton, a former information specialist with 

OMHRC said, “starting in your own backyard is the best place to 

begin a search for funding.” Malcolm Williams, program associate at 

Grantmakers In Health (a non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C., working to help foundations and corporate giving programs) agrees. Often grantseekers make the mistake of 

going after the big or well-known foundations, without 

exploring other opportunities, said Williams. 

“Grantseekers are less likely to receive funding from large 

foundations, which are also less likely to accept unsolicited proposals,” 

noted Williams. 

There are thousands of smaller foundations that can be more 

helpful and more receptive to CBOs that are looking for money, said 

Singleton. Regional Associations of Grantmakers (RAGS) such as the 

Donors Forum of Ohio or the Southeastern Council of Foundations, 

provide current listings of foundations in a specific geographic area. 

RAGS often provide CBOs and other organizations with free training 

or consulting services. For example, the Delaware Valley Grantmakers 

provide training classes and publications that can help an organization write a grant proposal or learn about the foundations in the area. 

One of the Washington Regional Associations of Grantmaker’s 

(WRAG) functions is to facilitate a mutual understanding between 

grantmakers and grantseekers. WRAG and many other RAGS also 

provide grantseekers with resources like the Common Grant Application Form. 

Once a grantseeker has found the nearest RAG in their area, 

narrowing the pool of possible foundations is the next step, according 

to Grantsdirect.com, an online directory of foundations and other 

grantmakers in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before applying for funding, organizations need to find out as much as possible 

about a foundation by reviewing its profile and any other published 

materials that are available. Some basic questions to ask include: 

•	 What is the size of the foundation? 

•	 What kinds of revenues, expenses and total contributions does it 

have? 

•	 What is its capacity to support your organization’s project? 

This information will most likely be found in a foundation’s 

annual report, which is often available via the foundation’s web site. 

Annual reports reflect the personality, style and interests of a foundation, according to the Foundation Center. Reports can also show 

whether a foundation is in the process of changing direction or considering new funding initiatives. 

Try to Match Missions 

A good way for organizations to keep a funding search focused is 

to learn the mission of each foundation. Williams says that many 

foundations grant money based on whether or not a proposed program fits with its own mission. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, for 

example, funds initiatives that have significant potential to demonstrate innovative policy, service delivery and community support for 

children and families. A grantseeker looking for money to build a 

community program for the support of the elderly would be better 

off looking to another foundation. 

“Organizations need to find a good fit,” said Margaret K. O’Bryon, President and CEO of the Consumer 

continued>>>> 

Office of Minority Health Resource Center	 1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Where to Begin the Search for Funding 

What Grantseekers Need to Know 

By Houkje Ross


Closing the Gap, Funding • April/May 2001


Health Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based foundation that gives 

grants to improve access to health care. “Just as each organization has 

a mission, foundations have a mission and vision for their community. 

It benefits everyone when an organization takes the time to research 

what a foundation seeks to accomplish,” said O’Bryon. 

Williams recommends learning the types of programs or 

organizations a foundation has funded in the past. This involves doing a fair amount of background research and developing a relationship with the foundation. Sitting down and talking with a representative from a foundation can also build an organization’s reputation. 

“Foundations want to know that they are more than just a financial 

resource,” said Williams. 

“I love it when a representative from an organization comes to 

talk to me,” said O’Bryon. “It shows a certain amount of commitment.” Talking with a foundation can also be a great way for an 

organization to learn about other foundations that may be willing to 

fund its project, O’Bryon added. “We’re all here trying to make a 

difference,” O’Bryon said of foundations and organizations. Organizations should think of foundations as active partners, she added. 

The Foundation Center has available an online orientation to the 

grantseeking process. It is available at http://fdncenter.org/learn/orient/ 

intro1.html, or call toll-free (800) 424-9836. 

For more information about Grantmakers in Health, contact Mary 

Backley, (202) 452-8331. To contact the Office of Minority Health 

Resource Center for a funding search, call (800) 444-6472.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services